In Job, we have a number of characters with names. As we learn in Biblical study, Hebrew names appearing in the Bible generally have a meaning associated with them that would have been common knowledge when mentioned in particular passages. Interestingly enough, the name Job does not seem to have been used enough to determine what it might have meant at the time the book was written. Theories abound from “Where is my Father?”, “He who turns to God”, “Object of Enmity”, or “Persecuted One.” Any of which make sense in the text.

A previous piece discussed the name of Satan to some degree, and of course, the name of God, Yahweh, is used depending on the translation. But we have four other characters with names and speaking parts to learn about.

The first is Eliphaz the Teminite. Eliphaz is understood to be the oldest of Job’s “friends” and speaks first. The word translated “friend” has also been translated “companion” and over the course of my study I developed a theory about these friends.

I think these first three friends are not “friends”, but the next three richest men to the North, South, and East of Job. As with caste systems and other social structures, these four are equally above everyone else around them and have their own little social group. They are not really friends, so much as rivals and competitors who have gotten as high as they could without taking from each other. Job, as the richest, has won the previous struggles amongst the members, and sits at the head of the group.

In my mind, these three have agreed to meet with Job to confirm the stories and begin the process of filling the vacuum his demise has provided. People generally do not get ahead by playing nice and although the story tells us God’s hand delivered Job his riches, these other men are most likely not benevolent leaders. I picture the pirate kings in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

The name Eliphaz is thought (along with the next two characters) to be from the family of Abraham. Eliphaz is actually Esau’s oldest son’s name. Esau, the son of Isaac (and brother of Jacob/Israel), and grandson of Abraham.

Zophar the Naamathite is known as the father of the King of the Moabites who descended from Abraham’s nephew Lot. Moab was the son of Lot’s oldest daughter and Lot (yes, incest).  

Bildad is a little harder, but since Abraham had so many kids, and their kids had kids, it stands to reason they are all related somehow.

The point being that these three characters were all Hebrew related and their ideas in their speeches are typical Hebrew expectations.

Job is not a traditionally linked name to Hebrew and the prevailing theory is this was purposely done to support this “new” idea of adversity happening to even the righteous. God is not defined by man and is not defined by what the Hebrews thought at the time.

The final named character is Elihu the Buzite. Nothing seems to be known about this character and the ideas he addresses are not strictly following the Hebrew ideas expressed by the other friends and not quite even what Job is saying, but something simpler and yet more complex at the same time.

The speeches in this section are different from the others in style as would be expected from a “lower” class person or someone speaking out of turn. The impact is that both being rich and being old does not make one wise and all knowing. This interloper has not the authority of God that we see later but does introduce the logic that helps pull the curtains back on the new and earth shaking.  I have not studied that far yet, but I look forward to it.

The use of names in Job to me reinforces the individuality required of a personal relationship to God and that God wants a saving relationship with everyone, not just the rich, not just the old, not just the popular, but everyone.